"The Chief Minister and Minister for Home Affairs have emerged from this saga with no disciplinary case, no Chief Officer, a pending report from a QC likely to be critical of the Island’s Government, and a bill for over a million pounds. They are not well placed to criticise the actions of others" Deputy Bob Hill.............................................
Trevor Pitmans Blog.......................................BALDTRUTH"

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Child Abuse Rally - London

Today in London there is a rally against Child Abuse

Trafalgar Square at Noon

Below I reproduce the flyer that will be handed out.

It's a brief outline of the Jersey Child Abuse Disaster/Cover-up. Jersey has never been forgotten by our friends across the water and we thank them for printing and distributing the flyer. There have been many words spoken about this outrageous cover-up, the people who have allowed it to happen, and the politicians who sit there doing nothing.

Today let us think about all the Victims past and present.

Not just in Jersey but everywhere

Thank you for supporting the Blogs

Team Voice & Friends

Historic Jersey Child Abuse

“There will be NO cover-up” – Chief Minister Frank Walker 2008

REALLY? – WELL PLEASE READ ON!!

Jersey – the Island of sunshine, flowers, blue sea and sandy beaches. Also - the Island of a Child Abuse scandal and cover-up on a massive scale.

When this scandal broke, it was international news. News which did not show the ‘clean’ face of Jersey, the Government of which has only one interest, and that is keeping its’ profile unflawed as an offshore tax haven and Finance Centre. Money rules here.

Little did this very Government (Establishment) reckon with the fortitude and resolve of many ordinary people, an outspoken politician and Citizen’s Media and not least the abuse survivors, a lot of whom have still not seen justice. Little do they realize that thanks to these resolute people this story will run and run until the truth and nothing but the truth is out there in full, and into the public domain.

The longer this absolute fiasco continues and the covering-up of a cover-up continues, the deeper and deeper the hole that the Jersey States have dug themselves’ into gets almost to the point of embarrassment.

It is impossible to itemize everything that has happened from the initial investigation, the destruction of an honest politicians life and career, not to mention the contempt the abuse survivors have been treated with and the disgusting vilification and destruction of the reputations of the then Chief of Police and his Senior Investigating Officer, all of which has been challenged and pulled to pieces by very good investigative bloggers in the Island, whilst our sycophantic Government controlled media have not run any of this as ‘news’ Better for them to publish stories of cats stuck in trees and the like!

To follow is a brief summary of events, and it is indeed very brief in comparison to what information is available. However it makes very frightening reading if you follow the links given.

Rest assured – THIS WILL NOT GO AWAY!

2007 – Senator Stuart Syvret expresses concerns about the level of child protection in Jersey. The then Chief Minister accused him of damaging Jersey’s reputation by speaking to the media and asked him to resign, which Senator Syvret refused to do. He then faced and lost a vote of no confidence. As Father of the House it fell to him to give the Christmas speech. In this speech he mentioned the Child protection issues, was told it was inappropriate and had his microphone switched off, and all members left the House. Mr. Syvret has subsequently been harassed, his home illegally searched, arrested on Data Protection issues, driven to take self imposed exile in the UK and having re-stood for election last year, lost his seat in the States. He has also been unlawfully imprisoned. He is currently working on several Court cases against the States of Jersey, which, if he is not successful he will take to Strasbourg. His blog is an explosive minefield of information and he continues to fight for, and support the child abuse victims in every way.

Allegations of abuse, which were not just related to Haut de la Garenne, but other ‘care’ homes included battering, rape and sodomy, stabbings or being cut with knives, burning with cigarettes and in one instance that we are aware of, being branded with a metal object that had been held on a hot stove, physical and mental abuse etc. The list goes on.

2007 – In November the Police decided to go public with the fact that they were investigating alleged child abuse matters, not only connected with Haut de la Garenne, but other homes run by the States of Jersey, a ‘well connected’ school, the Jersey Sea Cadets and others. The Police Chief at the time was Mr. Graham Power and the senior investigating officer Mr. Lenny Harper, both experienced and respected Police Officers, and who subsequently proved to be a trusted and vital source for abuse survivors to re-live their stories when they had not been listened to before. When this became public it became international news, and the media descended upon Jersey. News stories were put out in various forms, but unfortunately not always with the correct facts. Sadly the main culprits were our local media The Jersey Evening Post, Channel Television and BBC Radio Jersey. Indeed it is still the case with the JEP that they continue to churn out one sided stories, factually incorrect and with no investigative journalism involved at all. However, we are fortunate in that we have excellent bloggers here, the main ones being Voice for Children and Rico Sorda Blogspot who have, and continue to unravel, investigate and make a mockery of everything that has happened since 2007 regarding this scandal. As a result of the scandal breaking and victims being able to come out into the open the Jersey Careleavers Association was formed, and organised marches and public meetings, and continues to assist survivors of abuse who have been in care.

2008 – Lenny Harper (SIO) resigned and the new SIO Superintendent Michael Gradwell and replacement Deputy Chief David Warcup arrived in Jersey and totally misrepresented all that had been said before, and in effect rubbished the work done by the previous incumbents, and in one fell swoop undid all the good work in gaining the trust of the abuse victims. This was met most unfavorably by a lot of people who felt that they had been brought to the Island with an ulterior motive. From that day onwards the whole enquiry descended into a downwards spiral. On Wednesday 12th November Police Chief Graham Power, was suspended, allegedly over his handling of the Child Abuse scandal. Notes taken at this suspension meeting by the then Chief Executive were afterwards ‘destroyed’. Shortly afterwards the Wiltshire Report was commissioned to look into the matters of the suspension, was part published in redacted form in July 2010. A report by BDO Alto into the expenses incurred by Lenny Harper, and was never interviewed as part of this process, was also commissioned. This report cost the Jersey taxpayer £64,000 to audit less than £7,000 of expenses!! You can find more information on the BDO Alto report backed up with evidence on Rico Sordablogspot.

2009 – Police Chief Graham Power remained suspended and contested his suspension. DI Gradwell retired in August 2009 after having done a ‘good job’ destroying the confidence and expectations of many abuse survivors who to this day have not seen any justice. Several States Members became more vocal and challenging of the Home Affairs Minister who was unable/unwilling to answer very pertinent questions regarding the whole suspension issue. This had all the signs of a cover-up of a cover-up.

2010 – In January 2010 Graham Power gave six months resignation notice, and indeed retired with his reputation intact having faced no disciplinary charges. Thanks to the determination of one States Member Deputy Bob Hill an Inquiry into this suspension was called for a passed by the States. This would be The Napier Report which, when it finally was presented had one of the Terms of Reference omitted which Deputy Hill had not been notified had been removed. Obviously being a serious matter, questions were asked of the Chief Minister, who gave the reason that it had been omitted because of an ‘administrative error’. The Acting Deputy Police Chief David Warcup who had been expected to take up the role of Chief of Police declined the post in view of unwelcome comments and insinuations from the ‘unaccredited media’ and politicians.

It should also be noted that forensic evidence somehow did a disappearing act when Messrs Gradwell and Warcup appeared on the scene. Fresh and fleshed charred children’s bones were found at Haut de la Garenne, a large granite bath in the cellars where children were allegedly abused has been removed and is…………..?? Nobody knows. Our Home Affairs Minister made two statements in the States which were both so ludicrous people wondered if they had heard right. Firstly, he stated that the cellars were not cellars but ‘voids’. This was disproved by Deputy Bob Hill, an ex police officer with the Met, who with others visited the building and entered what indeed WERE cellars. The second laughable statement was regarding some 65 children’s milk teeth some with roots still attached found under the floorboards at Haut de la Garenne. Asked on a radio programme how they could possibly have got there (all in one place), he said they could have dropped through a gap in the floorboards! Yes, this is the calibre of our politicians and this has ever since been known as the Tooth Fairy story. Another nonsense is the ‘coconut story’. What was believed to be a piece of child’s skull was recovered and subsequently found to contain collagen (only found in mammals) This then found its way to Kew Gardens for forensics, and then just happened to change size, colour and shape and somehow ended up being a piece of coconut. To get answers from Kew Gardens or find out where this bone/coconut is has proved to be impossible thus far. Former Senator Stuart Syvret put to Messrs Gradwell And Warcup 37 questions concerning the forensics found at Haute de la Garanne to which he has still not had a reply. You can find these questions on Stuart Syvret’s blogspot “37 questions to Warcup and Gradwell 13th November 2008” which makes for very interesting and quite alarming reading! Lenny Harper has recently been quoted as saying "at the very least parts of children's bodies were buried there (HDLG) illegally.” The full interview can be found on Voice for Children blogspot May 2011.

2011 – A weak and insincere apology was issued by the Chief Minister, and we were informed that the Abuse Enquiry was closed. However questions still rage on the latest scandal being the BDO Alto report into expenses by the original investigation team (under £7,000), which cost £64,000 and which failed to interview the very person they were trying to discredit! Furthermore BDO Alto had been given sight of a document which was confidential and only to be used over the suspension issue i.e. The Wiltshire Report. At this moment in time it is unclear how this report was allowed it to be seen by BDO Alto, but due to some very good investigative work by the Rico Sorda Blogspot it seems it will not be too long before we find out. Of course there are grave Data Protection issues here. The States also announced that there would be no promised Commission of Inquiry into the child abuse scandal. Of course this was met with a lot of displeasure and thanks to a States Senator Francis Le Gresley and Deputies Bob Hill and Montfort Tadier, a proposition was brought to the States and the Inquiry should now be going ahead.

This is just a most brief history of what has, and still is happening in Jersey, but to read in depth makes damning reading. Indeed it beggars belief.

All this to cover up a child abuse scandal. It really does make you wonder why and who is being protected? It may take a long time, but we will find out.

Please read the above and visit the blogs listed which are full of the most damning facts backed up with hard evidence and which are well worth reading. They tell a story of a massive cover-up, complete and utter ineptitude by our most senior politicians and their ‘foot –stamping lackeys’ as they are now called, who cannot comprehend such dreadful deeds happening here.

Please make this leaflet available to anyone and everybody you know, whether it be your next door neighbour, your local politician, your friends and family and especially those concerned with child abuse. This story needs to be spread far and wide in the hope that it will be a wake-up call for our Government (but it won’t), and that for those who suffered this abuse they will see some form of justice through the Committee of Inquiry, and for all others in care that this can never be allowed to happen again.

Thank you for the birthday wishes Anon. We keep on going, the latest posting from Stuart adds even more to the evidence and its all happening on the blogs. Blog 'Marketing' is something we have been discussing the word must be spread even wider.

"Rico, do you think it is worth putting a permanent link to this on the right hand side of your blogspot page?"

Allegations of abuse, which were not just related to Haut de la Garenne, but other ‘care’ homes included battering, rape and sodomy, stabbings or being cut with knives, burning with cigarettes and in one instance that we are aware of, being branded with a metal object that had been held on a hot stove, physical and mental abuse etc. The list goes on.

At last,a clear concise listing of the pertinent points of this saga.Just one thing annoys me though.This incessant need to argue voids/cellars. Who cares. But for the record... the deepest void was indeed a full height room in the distant past before it was lowered for reasons unknown.Just take a look at the opposite wing of the building and I think that you should see how it used to be.That opposite room though quite low if my memory serves me correctly, was the gardeners shed and that did see abuse. Any way,the height of the room surely has no bearing on the claims that abuse took place there in the East wing,unless of course if you have read the book 'Nobody Came',then the height would most definitely matter.

We must remember that Warcup/Gradwell came up with 'Voids' for the very obvious reason of implying that there was no room for Abuse to have taken place. Thank you for the informative comment I must get round to reading 'Nobody Came' and will be my next read

2007 – Senator Stuart Syvret expresses concerns about the level of child protection in Jersey. The then Chief Minister accused him of damaging Jersey’s reputation by speaking to the media and asked him to resign.

"Furthermore BDO Alto had been given sight of a document which was confidential and only to be used over the suspension issue i.e. The Wiltshire Report. At this moment in time it is unclear how this report was allowed it to be seen by BDO Alto, but due to some very good investigative work by the Rico Sorda Blogspot it seems it will not be too long before we find out."

"It should also be noted that forensic evidence somehow did a disappearing act when Messrs Gradwell and Warcup appeared on the scene. Fresh and fleshed charred children’s bones were found at Haut de la Garenne, a large granite bath in the cellars where children were allegedly abused has been removed and is…………..??"

Hi Rico, how about getting a load of leaflets printed and deliver them to all households in Jersey. I know a printer and I would be willing to contribute towards the cost and to help deliver them. Anyone else interested?

The leafleting in Jersey is a very good idea. If someone would like to take it up and run with it im all for it. Distribution is the key, nothing wrong with good old door to door or a saturday morning in town. Hit the estates get them looking towards the blogs. The Tom Gruchy Blog is a must read as it covers many issues concerning the normal working class of Jersey. The bloggers are the frontline in this Battle for Open & Transparent Democracy in Jersey.

Bloggers in Jersey are like the older Generation with their Crystal sets. Hunting and trying to spread the real news that the Dictatorship don't want you to hear.

This is a straight forward War between open, transparent democracy & some strange old feudal power that is still trying to cling to power long after the meteorite has hit

But I have a question. Why are Frank Walker and Terry Le Seuer not named, being referred to only by the anonymous title of "Chief Minister"?

Ultimately this whole abuse mess is a political issue. Does it not seems unreasonable that the two men who held the island's highest political office during the sequence of events should have their names witheld, whilst everyone else involved is clearly named?

The purpose of this leaflet was to direct those unfamiliar with exactly what has gone on here towards the local blog sites that have the information in honest, 100% detail because it is very difficult to condense the whole sorry cover-up in a limited space.

Quite frankly Terry Le Sueur is such an insignificant man that he does not warrant naming when far more important issues need highlighting.

We know who our CM is and naming him to a wider audience is not exactly like naming Barrack Obama!!

Hopefully interested members of the public will look at the blog sites recommended and see what the bigger picture is.

Leaflets - count me in to distribute Rico if you go ahead. I really do feel it will bear fruit.

Tomorrow the States of Jersey sit at 2.30. The Chief Minister should in any proper democracy be making a statement on how TWO Senior Civil Servants waltzed off with £800,000 pounds. So serious is this it should be first on the order paper and not waiting for a question during questions without answers.

Who Sanctioned this?

Where is the audit trail and contractual evidence that they were entitled to these payouts?

Where did the money for these payouts come from?

These two top Civil Servants were both discredited by the Napier Report (Ogley) & Verita (Pollard)

The allegation that these two Civil Servants obtained such obscene payouts must be explained fully and not with the usual garbage we have come to expect from our ruling elite

These pay outs of £800,000 are an absolute disgrace. Both men left their posts by mutual agreement, either go or be sacked such was their disgraceful behaviour. I for one, as a tax payer and therefore part owner of the States pot, want a clear account of a) documented proof that these buffoons were legally due these pay outs especially under the conditions to which they were forced to resign and b) where did the funds come from and to the detriment of what? I am aware that there are several slush funds sloshing around within the various states departments that are not taken into account (criminal confiscation fund being one) when preparing the official States year end accounts. How many of these slush funds are there, where do these funds originate from, how much money is held in each and how is the money spent? Nothing less than a full audit trail of the above will be sufficient to me as a tax payer and until then, I am seriously considering suspending my tax payments and am willing to go to Court to explain why I have stopped paying my tax! This island is a total mess, our hard earned money is being used in the most corrupt way, forcing the lower to middle earners into further debt to keep the rich and finance industry happy and I have HAD ENOUGH.

By comparison, I have it on good authority that any compensation payouts to the survivors of the historic abuse investigation will be no more than 30 to 40 thousand pounds maximum for the most serious of cases with the majority getting far, far less and in some instances, they will, in all probability, receive nothing at all. What price do you put on destroying a young innocent child’s life to the point of destroying the rest of their adult lives! We live in a sick, non caring society and it makes my blood boil.

Anonymous (3.41pm)- I agree with every single word in your comment. We do indeed live in an I'm alright Jack society here' apart from a corrupt and greedy, self-interested one and I have been fed up with it for a long time, as I suspect so have many, many others.

Your suggestion about witholding tax payments is excellent. Hit them where it hurts - in their coffers! Like a 'super-injunction' it will be jolly hard work trying to prosecute everybody if we all took a stand. Mind you, knowing the calibre of our CoM would probably dictate that they would have a jolly good try.

I doubt there will be any meaningful answers tomorrow and Terry Le Sueur must have the greatest pressure put on him to come clean on this one, and if he does not it must be relentless as it was with Mr Power's suspension.

Finally, and I have said this before, but it merits repeating, the abuse survivors, some of whom suffered the most horrendous abuse imaginable have behaved with patience and dignity for so long. They deserve the very best they can get, and I wish them luck, and furthermore a voice when the Committee of Inquiry gets off the ground.

I've tried to copy it to my blog but the colour scheme makes the black and red text unreadable. I went into HTML to change it but there is so much coding it is impractical and would be quicker to retype the entire thing myself!

If you have the original plain text version it would be much appreciated, thankyou.

"By comparison, I have it on good authority that any compensation payouts to the survivors of the historic abuse investigation will be no more than 30 to 40 thousand pounds maximum for the most serious of cases with the majority getting far, far less and in some instances, they will, in all probability, receive nothing at all. What price do you put on destroying a young innocent child’s life to the point of destroying the rest of their adult lives! We live in a sick, non caring society and it makes my blood boil."